The budget commercial 4x4 has returned, with the third generation of Dacia Duster Cargo launching to provide an economy-centric alternative to a pickup truck. The simple approach means a choice of one bodystyle, one trim and two engines – one mild hybrid and one full self-charging hybrid.
Handily it is the cheaper of these – the mild hybrid – that you want if you are thinking of spending more time down farm tracks and hurtling across fields, as that’s the one that comes with four-wheel drive.
Converted for hard work
The Cargo takes the basic Duster and carries out the conversion at the factory, meaning it retains all its original Dacia warranty, which can be extended up to seven years if you get it serviced at an official dealer. The conversion sees the rear seats removed and replaced by a flat wooden floor and a full-height mesh bulkhead installed.
Other changes see the windows blanked out, rubber mats installed while a full-length load cover protects the loading bay contents from prying eyes. Four lashing points allow you to keep items from flying around as you whizz down your local green lanes.
You also get wheel-arch protection and a snorkel in a tough recycled plastic, while there are roof bars on top. Oddly, the Cargo is also fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels, which feels less robust than a set of steel wheels, but it perhaps points to the fact that plenty of previous buyers have been less adventurous and more likely to stick to the roads.
One trim, two engines
The Cargo is available in just the one trim: Expression. This brings kit such as automatic wipers, a 7.0-inch digital driver’s display and a 10.1-inch central infotainment screen with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The safety and driver assistance systems include cruise control with speed limiter, traffic sign recognition with intelligent speed assist, rear parking sensors and rear-view camera and hill start assist.
The mild hybrid version comes with a selection of off-roading systems too, including terrain control with five driving modes and a hill-descent control. It offers 217mm of ground clearance.
This mild hybrid combines a 1.2-litre petrol engine with a 48V motor that gives a little assistance when pulling away or accelerating, although it isn’t designed to power the engine on its own. This is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox and is capable of an official WLTP fuel economy of 46.3mpg and a 0-62mph time of 11.0 seconds.
The hybrid 155 engine has a larger 1.8-litre petrol engine and a pair of electric motors that takes the power output to 155hp. It’s combined with a six-speed automatic gearbox, claims 59.0mpg and is also the faster of the two with a 0-62mph time of 9.4 seconds.
The weights for both vans are much the same, although it is the full, self-charging hybrid that offers a marginally higher payload at 430kg. The mild hybrid 4x4 is able to carry 410kg. Both loading bays are the same, though, with 1,030 litres of space – 0.97 cubic metres – in the rear. The bay measures 700mm tall, 1,345mm in length and is 1,000mm wide.
How much is the Dacia Duster Cargo and when can I buy one?
The Dacia Duster Cargo starts at £22,995 (not including VAT) for the 4x4 mild hybrid model, while the 4×2 hybrid version kicks off at £23,595. Both are available to order now with the first vehicles heading out to buyers by the end of 2025.
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